Abs Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Hello all, With this week set to carry on with snowy conditions, just thought it would be a good idea for people to suggest some good tips for driving our A8/S8's in the snow and ice.... anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Snow if you got Quattro go for it its a blast. Ice - don't! if you value your paint work!:nono: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abs Posted February 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 I remember reading somewhere, that when it snows / ice, you should turn off ESP as it's better? This true? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Get the bus. If the buses aren't running, walk. Or stay in. Then those that can get about (i.e. in a vehicle suitable for the conditions) can do so without having to negotiate/bounce off your car when it gets stuck. (Not meant to be harsh - just that if you're not confident on snow/ice then you're better off not risking it unless you absolutely must.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkoneman Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 i find it is better in some situation to have esp off as if your trying to pull out of somewhere and the esp is on it tends to just kill the power and you get no where but its in weather like this you can really feel the quattro doing its thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutherland Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Speaking from nearly twenty years of experience of driving quattros (100, 90, 200, V8, Ur, S6, and now an S8) I'd say the singularly most important thing is to get snow tyres. A quattro will give you more traction, but with big wide performance tyres you just ski off the road at a higher speed than the chap in the Peugeot 206 with skinny rubbers. I speak from the experience of ending up on my side in a ditch after a hail shower (Ur quattro required minor repairs) and seeing my father demolish half his garage after managing a normally impossible climb to the top of his icy drive before the car started to slide back down the hill (100 quattro - written off). Scotland does give us a few more opportunities to test the theories. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Interesting no one is mentioning braking. Even on 'summer' tyres, quattro will give plenty of 'go' but it helps little with 'stop'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woppum Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Well I made it in to work and didnt do too badly considering I was on cups with a race diff. I get stuck on Westbourne Grove but luckily right in front of a family shovelling their drive. Of course i summoned them over, the dad to push and the 2 kids to dig out the wheels, was very grateful. Left the office at 12pm and got stuck coming on to the hanger lane roundabout. The idea this time was to hail as many passers by as possible and politely invite them to the back seat of my car. Luckily, again, I found 2 portly blokes who were very happy to help. Amazing the difference the weight made! Regarding the driving. gentle throttle, low revvs and slow corrective lock. Not a problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillBlank Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 The throttle is an on off switch, other peoples bootlids are your braking zone, one window open at all times so that gesticulations are clearly visible and wear a trilby. That would be a distilled version of the driving on the way to work this morning, I'm not used to being the sensible one??:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botang Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 Don't stop to decide whether you will make it up the hill or not, go for it and keep the momentum up. Look out for coaches they think they are invincible in this weather, at least I presume thats what the national express coach driver thought last night on the M11 before ending up in the central reservation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutherland Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Abs, your comment reminded me that in the 200 quattro era Audi did recommend switching of ABS in fresh snow on the basis that locked brakes caused the snow to pile up in front of the wheels and stopped the car in a shorter distance. That was before the days of ESP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goz Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 I wanted to try it out, but it looked so cozy under the snow I decided to let it sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Well I made it in to work and didnt do too badly considering I was on cups with a race diff. I get stuck on Westbourne Grove but luckily right in front of a family shovelling their drive. Of course i summoned them over, the dad to push and the 2 kids to dig out the wheels, was very grateful. Left the office at 12pm and got stuck coming on to the hanger lane roundabout. The idea this time was to hail as many passers by as possible and politely invite them to the back seat of my car. Luckily, again, I found 2 portly blokes who were very happy to help. Amazing the difference the weight made!Regarding the driving. gentle throttle, low revvs and slow corrective lock. Not a problem Wops, could you sound any more like Mr Burns??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 Speaking from nearly twenty years of experience of driving quattros (100, 90, 200, V8, Ur, S6, and now an S8) I'd say the singularly most important thing is to get snow tyres. A quattro will give you more traction, but with big wide performance tyres you just ski off the road at a higher speed than the chap in the Peugeot 206 with skinny rubbers. Yep, my V8 quattro was a blast in the snow. Heavy car, 225 tyres (IIRC). Great. However, once I had got shot and got the A8 Sport quattro, slightly different story. The 245 tyres meant the grip was not as good. The 95 A6 quattro was great with 205's I think??? and same with my 97 A6 quattro. Grip is quite good and it digs into the snow a bit! Anyway, go have a go if you can. Start a drift and then add some power - you straighten up and off you go! Not much drama, but still fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted February 3, 2009 Report Share Posted February 3, 2009 (Not meant to be harsh - just that if you're not confident on snow/ice then you're better off not risking it unless you absolutely must.) How do you get the confidence it you don't go out? My father took me out for training drives in empty car parks from around age 13 or 14. I do the same whenever it snows and also take my wife. It's great fun but more importantly you have the confidence/experience which helps you control and slides and keeps you from jumping on the brakes. Interesting no one is mentioning braking. Even on 'summer' tyres, quattro will give plenty of 'go' but it helps little with 'stop'. I was talking to people about this today. There's a lot of idiots in 4x4's, softroaders, quattros etc who feel invincible but all AWD does it help you go faster. I guess they learn that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jash Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Like everyone has said, 4x4 will get you to the top of the hill but it will not help you when you want to brake or steer. My tips would be, for people who are confident in snow! Dont drive fast. The problem is stopping and steering. Fit your best tyers on the front Turn of ESP. Dont want the car to do somthing your not expexting. Ues tiptronic. The slight jurk from the Autotrans in DRIVE can corses loss of traction if under load and you can get more torque from the engine (higher revs) If you fill the ABS kick in let the brake off just a bit till it stops jurking, then aply abit more presure. And the golden rule is DONT BRAKE ON BENDS. This is just my opinon, but I had a good techer, mums Swedish, dads a old rally driver and from driving my A8 in the snow. If your not confident and must drive some ware I would leave the ESP on. My car had no problems getting up hills with bald front tyers. Which I have now replased. Just got impatient and had to go out. Didnt get stuck thought+++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve2 Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 Jash, you really need to do a spell check before posting:D Nice pics, no way would i have gone there+++ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlot Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 I was talking to people about this today. There's a lot of idiots in 4x4's, softroaders, quattros etc who feel invincible but all AWD does it help you go faster. I guess they learn that Happened to me on Monday. I was driving in the snow at about 40 on a B road and a guy in a RAV4 came up behind me very quickly to one car length so I gently slowed and indicated for him to go past which he did whilst having time to open the passenger window and shout at me as he went past. He was such a great driver but his reg number is etched on my brain now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiny12 Posted February 4, 2009 Report Share Posted February 4, 2009 After My dad and his girlfriend having to stay over on Sunday night because he could not make it any place in his BoxsterS (his Contiis are not exactly “winter rubber”) then spending a hour and a half digging it out and pushing it on Monday arvo, I was a little sceptical about going out, however needs must (nappies, baby milk ect) I decided that I would clear all the snow on my drive/across the foot path and the edges of the road I cut a 30 foot scar of gravel/pavement/tarmac (took me about an hour) I also let a little air out of the tyres, they are the regular 17 wheels with 225/55 goodyear wrangler f1 allroad tyres (I have thought about changing them since having the car, so glad I put it off now!!). The car was amazing….it did not miss a beat obviously I kept it very slow on un cleared roads and tried to eliminate erratic throttle/break use. But the car handled floorlessly! Even when coming home and a neighbour pulled out of his drive in front of us the car was controlled and the ABS did its job! Also I would like to mention how good my 1998 XLWB ford transit is in the snow(I went out on my MX bike on Monday arvo)……its also amazing….and so far has pulled 6 cars out of trouble!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobes49 Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Just go and play. here me and matt playing in the snow: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Figure11 Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 Top Vid Tobes. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 How do you get the confidence it you don't go out? My father took me out for training drives in empty car parks from around age 13 or 14. I do the same whenever it snows and also take my wife. It's great fun but more importantly you have the confidence/experience which helps you control and slides and keeps you from jumping on the brakes. Fair point. Best bet though is, like you say, take the chance to go somewhere relatively safe if possible and practise, rather than launching straight into rush hour mayhem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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